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"I've got the full clearance from the surgeon and everyone at Bayer and the doctors here, so it's 100 per cent to go," Kruse said on Tuesday.

"I think I can play and if I'm chosen to play from the beginning, I'll be buzzing.

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"I'm not expecting miracle performances or great performances immediately. It'll be great if that happens but hopefully I can just build myself up.

"It's normally a nine-month turnaround (with anterior crucial ligament injuries), so to be back in training with the first team is something I am really proud of."

Former Melbourne Victory star Kruse was a certainty to earn his first World Cup call-up and admitted he found it tough watching his national teammates on the world stage in Brazil as he continued his recovery in Germany.

However, he insists he's come through the experience a tougher player.

"Mentally it was quite difficult, especially when it came to the World Cup time and the build-up and all the excitement," Kruse said.

"In rehab you're isolated and alone all the time and it gets quite depressing.

"But obviously people say you get mentally stronger and I do feel mentally stronger and hopefully that puts me in good stead for the future."

Kruse was on the cusp of becoming a first-team regular with heavyweights Leverkusen prior to his injury but now faces a fight to win a place back in the squad.

He toyed with the idea of going on loan but has decided to stay put and hopes his national team return can provide a springboard for club success.

Kruse's longer-term goal is helping Australia lift the Asian Cup on home soil in January.

"We should be looking at winning it and hopefully I can play a part in that and that will go a long way to making up for missing the World Cup," he said.